West Magazine May 6 2017

06.05.17

SPY STORY Cornwall’s latest mystery

WIN!

Cashmere knitwear from Crew Clothing

22

ways to eat well now

NATURALLY INSPIRED ‘I sold my beauty empire and bought a farm’

- pg16 Cover_May 6.indd 1

02/05/2017 14:06:45

DREAMING OF

SPRING STYLES

drakecircus.com

Ads_May 6.indd 1

02/05/2017 14:36:01

‘I was a serious bodger: Let’s just pin that there, cut it here, oh no, I’ve cut off the sleeve, well now it’s sleeveless.’

Fenella Tobey gets crafty, p8

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RESTORATION DRAMA From wreck to family home in Brixham

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WRITER IN RESIDENCE Inspiration strikes in south Cornwall

[contents[ Inside this week...

6

THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

9

JUST BETWEEN US...

Sh! We have all the latest gossip

12

WRITER IN RESIDENCE The smart new thriller set in Cornwall

16

A COUNTRY IDYLL

28

IN THE PINK How to wear fashion’s favourite shade

36

MITCH TONKS COOKS Seafood treats from our favourite chef

Doing things differently on a Devon farm

22

RESTORATION DRAMA From wreck to family home in Brixham

26

ASK GRACIE Our style guru solves your problems

28

THINK PINK! Fashion’s favourite shade for springtime

32

BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best right now

34

YOUR STARS THIS WEEK Cassandra Nye has your horoscope

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SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world

44

SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do

46

A SMASHING TIME Toddlers + Lego = tears...

16

A COUNTRY IDYLL Farming for the future in the Axe Valley

26

LOOK YOUR BEST

Style advice from Gracie Stewart 3

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44

SPECIAL DAYS OUT

The best of the Westcountry

[ welcome [ They do say, what goes around comes around... ears and years and, well, a very long time ago indeed, I was a rookie journalist on the Sunday Telegraph, where I worked briefly alongside a young editor called Jon Stock.

He swiftly left to become a wildly successful thriller writer but his injunction to me to: “stop using the word ‘while’ unnecessarily in your writing all the time” stayed with me - and prevented perhaps half of the “whiles” I might have scattered about the place otherwise.

Anyway, imagine my surprise when I spotted a new spy book, by none other than Jon Stock, based

Y

Tweet

[

of the week

entirely in the Westcountry - on the beautiful Roseland peninsula, to be precise. It was the work of a moment to persuade Jon to write a piece for West on how this came about (clue: an enviable stint as writer-inresidence at the Nare Hotel was involved).

It’s a very entertaining - and grammatically correct - read (p12), he really is a terrific writer.

While (!) you’re flicking through today’s West, do check out our interview with Romy Fraser, OBE, the founder of Neal’s Yard Remedies (p16). She’s now running an innovative farming enterprise in Devon - and is clearly full of energy at 70. Have a great weekend.

She’s now running a sustainable farm and is full of energy at 70

@WMNWest

@FistralBeachH Local sundowners (@swdistillery @ Skinnersbrewery) with a view

[

[ [

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk

Becky Sheaves, Editor

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

COVER IMAGE: Rebecca Bernstein

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

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Eds letter_One thing_May 6.indd 4

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If you do one thing this week...

If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up this spring, then how about Crew Clothing Company’s new sweater collection? The luxurious cotton and cashmere blend is perfect for spring evenings. The range comes in all sorts of flattering colours and the fabric is truly luxurious. This Foxy V-neck Jumper costs £45 and there is also a men’s version too.

You can find these jumpers at the Crew Clothing Company store in Exeter’s Princesshay shopping centre www.princesshay.co.uk

Win

We are offering you a chance to win Crew Clothing Company products worth £57. The giveaway includes a luxurious V neck sweater (men’s or women’s) (£45) and a bundle of three pairs of socks (£12). To enter, simply tell us the name of the Exeter shopping centre where you’ll find the Crew Clothing Company store. Send your answers, plus your shoe and dress size, your name, address, phone number and email to: Crew Clothing Company Competition, westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by May 19. Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Crew Clothing Company competition, West Magazine, Queen’s House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX43LJ. Normal terms apply. West will not share your details.

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Salad bowl

Animal tribal camisole

£8 Sainsbury’s Home

£5 George at ASDA

the

wishlist West’s top picks for spending your time and money this week

Aztec vase £38 Debenhams

fave!

Bird jar £12 Debenhams

Niro shoes from Mephisto £129 Foot Solutions, Plymouth

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Wishlist

Cage lamp £49.99 HomeSense

Earrings £16 Oliver Bonas

SLEEK Salad servers £24 Oliver Bonas

Stripe accent chair £499 DFS Furniture

CHIC

Ruffle dress £35 Simply Be

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talking points Fenella Tobey

Story of my life...

A true case of waste not, want not n recent years upcycling has become seriously fashionable. Perhaps the dips in the economy are to blame, or maybe we are just finally realising that our planet will soon drown in the amount of waste we produce if we don’t do something about it.

There is only so much land we can fill, and no one seems intermy sewing skills were atrocious ested in my idea of ejecting our and any attempt usually ended up waste out into space. But whether with me wailing “Mum the sewing it be food or furniture, we humans machine’s not working!” which are in the habit of throwing away really meant I had broken the perfectly good products far too sewing machine. often. It doesn’t help that fashMy ideas were so clear in my ion is fickle - technology evolves head but they would drive my faster than we can consume it, mother mad because there was and what is new can become old never a pattern or plan to follow, in the blink of an eye.

I was a serious bodger. “Let’s Thank goodness, then that just pin that there, cut it here, oh distressed and no, I’ve cut off the shabby chic is sleeve, well now it’s now the equivasleeveless.” I was the I was a serious lent of shiny and extreme of “make sophisticated. do and mend”. You’ll bodger. ‘Let’s Our wallets can be pleased to know just pin that take a breather, Mum is no longer the council tip roped into my there, cut it can have a day sewing projects as here, oh no, off, and the world she cleverly gave me I’ve cut off the can get involved my own sewing main something chine, with its own sleeve, well now that doesn’t reinstruction manual. it’s sleeveless.’ quire staring at a There is no better screen. feeling than transAs an indiforming something vidual I am creative, but I am old, into something new. Don’t get also pretty poor most of the time. me wrong, I still manage to spend Meaning I can’t go out and buy the money on my projects. The haberlatest pogo stick or Gucci handbag dashery and hardware stores are even if I wanted to. When I see an dangerous places for any DIYer. item in a magazine that I love, I But it pales in comparison as to want it now, so I am often spurred what I could be spending, which to go rummaging in my wardrobe is just as well for this job-hunting for old clothes that need revampgraduate. Making something with ing, or stealing some of Mum’s your hands is far more rewardupholstery fabric. When I was ing than buying from a shop. So younger I would have all these go: find your sewing needle, Pritt fantastic ideas that “I” was going Stick or paintbrush, and create to make, but of course back then something fabulous!

I

DARK AND

dramatic

Leaving little to the imagination, Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain opted for a black sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline from Alexander McQueen for the premiere of her new movie The Zookeeper’s Wife. If you want to get the plunging look without causing your finances to plummet, look no further than these deep V-neck dresses from the high street.

Ribbon tie front maxi dress £100 Very

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION B Fitted OPTION A Flirty

Textured stripe dress £65 Littlewoods.com

V-neck dress £39 Topshop

Next week: Fenella on life in the boomerang generation. Gillian Molesworth is having a break but will return to West next month 8

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06.05.17

CHRIS: MY WEIRD DIVORCE Exeter-born Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, shares looking after his two children with A-list actress Gwenyth Paltrow after their divorce. He says it’s getting easier and the couple are managing to stay amicable since they “consciously uncoupled” in 2014 after ten years together.

“It’s a divorce - but it’s a weird one,” the Clocks singer told Rolling Stone magazine recently. “I don’t think about that word very often, I don’t see it that way.”

He continued: “I see it as more like you meet someone, you have some time together and things just

move through.”

Gwyneth – who is now in a relationship with actor Brad Falchuk – agrees: “As anybody who has been divorced knows, you have to put a lot aside to maintain the family and the practicalities of what that might mean and sometimes that’s quite tough on a personal level,” the Hollywood star told an interviewer recently. “It’s a commitment I make every day to my children and their father even though we’re not in a romantic relationship.”

Just

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

!

MIRANDA’S NEW ROLE

GIRLS REUNITED We’re so excited that Bananarama are getting back together! Even better, they will be performing live right here in the South West. The 80s popstars are reuniting and will be playing at Plymouth Pavilions on November 28 – tickets have just gone on sale.

It will be the first time the trio has toured together, despite their mega success back in the day with hit singles such as Venus and Love in the First Degree. They only toured after Siobhan Fahey left the band.

“The worst thing was that, after Siobhan left, Sara and I then did

the world tour without her,” Keren Woodward explained on Radio Two. Keren, above, lives near Wadebridge in north Cornwall with her husband Andrew Ridgeley, one half of Wham! with George Michael.

“We had tried to do it while we were together all as a threesome, then I got pregnant while we were rehearsing...This is the first time we’ve performed live together - with the exception of getting onstage with a cassette when we were 18!”

The band’s website crashed shortly after the tour was announced – have you got tickets?

Miranda Hart’s new job involves working with the twin perils of children and animals — but she says neither holds any fear after starring alongside babies in Call The Midwife.

The actress, 44, has just started rehearsals for her West End debut as Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie.

She said her co-stars, three young Annies and four-year-old labradoodle Amber, made her “feel instantly calmer” and were much easier to deal with than newborns.

Miranda, who played a nurse in Call The Midwife until 2015, said: “It is already like a family, isn’t it, when you’ve got a dog? I’ve got my own dog so I’m dog-obsessed and also these fine ladies are much easier to control and chat to than newborn babies on Call The Midwife. That is the hardest work you’ll do.”

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All things bright: Mike Watson took this lovely picture of fields near Minehead

in pictures Teamwork: Dad Lee and daughter Ruby did well in the Plymouth Ocean City run

Oh baby: Andy Styles took this picture of the new baby giraffe at Paignton Zoo

Yummy: Marco Pierre White’s new restaurant in Plymouth hosted a tea party for local children

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talking points A HISTORY

of the

WEST in

100

objects 45: EXETER AFTER THE BLITZ

The best way to:

TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE BEACH IN THE SUMMER Fenella Tobey seeks out the Westcountry beaches where our furry friends are still welcome now that May is here: Putsborough Sands: This three mile stretch of golden sand in north Devon has been voted the UK’s best beach for the second year running on Trip Advisor. Not only does it draw the surfers and sunbathers but it’s heaven for dog walkers too, with half the beach allowing full access to our four-legged pals. Hooray!

Soar Mill Cove: If big and beautiful is not what you’re looking for, perhaps small and cosy is? With parking nearby, this hideaway cove near Salcombe is dog friendly all year round. Fancy spending Sunday with your dog, descending windy cliff paths and hopping between rock pools? I thought so.

Painted by A.C. Bown, 1942–3 Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.

He says: The form of modern towns and cities generally results from gradual and sometimes controversial change – a new shopping centre or office block is built or a road constructed. However, on occasions, cityscapes can change overnight. Which brings us to the dramatic events in Exeter 75 years ago.

In the early hours of May 4 1942, Luftwaffe bombing reduced the city centre to rubble. Incendiary bombs set High Street buildings on fire and this spread east to Bedford Circus. Now under Princesshay shopping centre, Bedford Circus was an architectural gem: a grand, Georgian masterpiece to rival anything in Bath or London.

Albert Charles (usually known as A.C.) Bown recorded the aftermath of the blitz in this

poignant watercolour. Bown was not among the ranks of the official war artists – such as John Piper, Henry Moore or Paul Nash – but he was on the spot to record Exeter’s darkest hour. He shows a desolate scene of rubble, withered trees, a gutted neoclassical chapel, a statue of the Earl of Devon and the familiar silhouette of the cathedral beyond.

And therein lies the controversy.

Where had the burnt out remains of Bedford Circus gone between May 1942 and the date of Bown’s sketch in 1942 or ‘43? The incendiary bombs had left the buildings burnt-out, but still standing. It transpires that it was the city planners who applied the final push - with bulldozers.

#45

Beesands: Looking for a beach with an old-fashioned vibe? Head to Beesands near Kingsbridge in south Devon, where fishing boats can be seen hauling in their catch to sell on the village green. You and your dog can have fun on the shingle or lose yourselves in the fields and fresh water lake set behind the beach.

Perranporth: This fabulous beach familiar to many of us from the BBC’s TV show Seaside Rescue - has four miles of golden Cornish sand to play on. Dogs are welcome all year round but must be on leads in July and August. And why not pop into the dogfriendly Watering Hole bar, right on the sand, for a coffee, lunch or a beer?

On display in Gallery 3, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter www.rammuseum.org.uk

Competition winners: Kate Williams, Dunkeswell; Toby Wheddon, Okehampton; Heather Hodder, Ivybridge; Pam Goodman, Plymouth and Sonia Cleave;Torrington all won tickets to the Exeter food festival.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN FREDDY JONES

People

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STRICTLY UNDER COVER...

Spy novelist Jon Stock explains how his latest page-turner came to be set in Cornwall here was a moment, in the early days of writing To Snare A Spy, when I realised that not everyone at the Cornish hotel where I was staying knew that I was an author.

I was talking to Andrew, one of the concierges at The Nare Hotel on the Roseland peninsula.

How long would it take, I asked him, for a night porter to unlock the front door if, say, I had sprinted up from the beach at midnight, pursued by unfriendly Russians, and was banging frantically to be let in. There was a pause before Andrew, ever so politely, enquired: “Is everything all right, Mr Stock?”

To Snare A Spy is the sixth spy novel that I’ve written, although at 45,000 words, it’s technically a novella. Dead Spy Running, the first of my Daniel Marchant espionage trilogy, was published by HarperCollins back in 2009 and subsequently optioned by Warner Bros. The Oscarwinning Stephen Gaghan wrote the screenplay but, eight years on, the film is, alas, still in development.

I would love a film to be made of To Snare A Spy, not least because the book’s gorgeous Roseland peninsula setting is so cinematic. Nare Head, St Just-in-Roseland, the church at St Anthony, Place House – they all feature in a stunning landscape of hidden creeks and high-sided lanes that lends itself to intrigue. It’s an area, after all, that’s

T

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People

rich in espionage history. In World War Two, the Special Operations Executive launched daring covert raids into France from the Helford River.

The book itself is set in the present day and is written from the point of view of Noah, a 15-yearold boy who holidays every summer at The Nare with his family. Noah is a fan of spy thrillers and is also a bit of a computer geek, identifying more with Q and his gadgets than James Bond. On the last day of the summer term, his Russian school friend, Alexei, tells him something that will change his life forever. Alexei’s father is a senior member of President Putin’s government and, one night, Alexei overheard his father talking about a Russian mole working at the highest levels of the British establishment. Not only that, but he stays every summer at the same hotel in Cornwall where Noah takes his holidays. “You know, that posh place you’re always talking about, where they set fire to their puddings.” (Flambéd crêpes suzette are a speciality at The Nare.)

Noah arrives at the hotel, wondering who the mole might be, only to discover that none other than the British home secretary is due to arrive

the next day. To complicate matters further, he is coming with his beautiful daughter, Clemmie, who goes to the same school as Noah. In a race against time, across land and sea, Noah has to make some tough choices as he attempts to expose the mole and win Clemmie’s heart. Along the way, he must contend with a Russian oligarch in a superyacht, not to mention hostile agents who are also staying at the hotel.

The book was a new experience for me as it was commissioned by a hotel rather than a traditional publisher. I was asked to stay as writer-inresidence and, in return, conjure up a book that was set in and around The Nare.

In the event, I was lucky enough to spend a month, off and on, in utter luxury, writing between 1,000 and 3,000 words a day, in between walks on Carne beach, runs up to Nare Head and trips out on Alice Rose, the hotel boat that features prominently in the book. If it sounds like I landed in clover, I can confirm that I had more fun writing this book than I’ve had working on any other project since I become a novelist 20 years ago. The only hardship was the daily cream tea – I must have put on

‘The biggest joy for me was

being given licence to set

the entire book in Cornwall’

good stone in weight.

This is not the first time a deal like this has been struck between an author and an upmarket hotel. The Savoy has run a residency programme with authors such as Fay Weldon, Kathy Lette and Michael Morpurgo staying at the famous London establishment. (The Savoy subsequently featured in Morpurgo’s Kaspar, Prince of Cats.)

My publisher is The Nare’s proprietor, Toby Ashworth, who I had got to know ten years ago, when I was editor of the Daily Telegraph’s Saturday Weekend section. The fourth generation of Cornish hoteliers in his family, Toby is also a spy aficionado – his telephone extension is 007. When he asked me last autumn to pen a spy thriller set at The Nare, I leapt at the opportunity, particularly as he promised me free editorial rein without any commercial pressures. (The Nare, for example, is only mentioned once by name in the book, although it’s clearly recognisable.)

All Toby required was for the novel to be “a cracking, cross-generational read” and for it to work as a “background briefing” document for anyone interested in becoming a spy in Cornwall

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Jon Stock has set his sixth spy novel on the Roseland Peninsula

this summer. Three generations of families often stay at The Nare and Toby has been busy devising a series of interactive espionage missions to entertain teenagers during their holiday. Using locations from the book, some of the operations will be on land, others will require a trip across to the Helford on board Alice Rose. Several of the hotel staff who appear in the book also have covert roles to play. “There will be opportunities aplenty this summer for aspiring spooks staying at The Nare go undercover as agents, completing Noah’s original mission,” Toby promises.

The biggest joy for me about all this was being given licence to set an entire book in Cornwall.

My wife’s mother and grandmother grew up in Mousehole, and the county has walk-on parts in almost all my novels, most recently in Find Me, a psychological thriller that I wrote under the pseudonym J.S.Monroe. Now, at last, Cornwall takes central stage – just watch out for Russian agents at midnight on Carne Beach.

See www.tosnareaspy.com to order hardback copies of the book (£14.99) and to find out about interactive spy missions at The Nare this summer.

The Nare Hotel 15

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Interview

Back to the land the pioneering founder of the neals Yard beauty brand is now running a Westcountry farm. anna turns meets Romy Fraser, oBe, among the fields of east devon n 1981, long before the world woke up to clean eating and organic beauty products, Romy Fraser opened a small natural health shop in London’s Covent Garden.

Fast forward to the present day and the business she started back then, Neal’s Yard Remedies, is stocked in 21 countries, across five continents, and everyone covets those iconic blue glass bottles. Here in the South West there’s a Neal’s Yard Remedies store in Exeter, Dorchester, Tavistock, Taunton and Totnes.

In 2005 Romy – who is now 70 - sold the business for a reported £10 million. But this was no retirement plan. Instead, she set has set up her own working, sustainable farm in east Devon.

So why did this hugely successful businesswoman quit her city life for rural paradise – and has the grass truly been greener in the countryside? “The time I spend at Trill Farm is just about as good as

I

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photography: rebecca bernstein

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life gets,” she tells me. “I started with the idea of turning the land into a commercial food-producing farm while encouraging the diverse natural habitats here to thrive.

“It is a teaching farm, welcoming in expertise in crafts and rural skills. I like the idea of small businesses with shared values working together. So since 2007 the farm has evolved into something real, friendly, inclusive and very productive. I believe we are doing something special here at Trill.”

As the spring flowers begin to burst into colour, Romy is at an exciting stage of developing Trill Farm, based in a quiet wooded valley on the Devon-Dorset border, four miles inland from the Jurassic Coast.

The heart of the business is the courtyard next to the medieval manor house. It is a hive of activity, with cookery courses and sociable lunches on long tables in the Old Dairy Kitchen along one side and independent workshops in the studios opposite. “Currently, there is a soap-making enterprise, my tiny pottery studio, a wood workshop that processes the windblown timber off the farm, the herb room and an old cider press,” says Romy. Phew!

“From here you can spot the polytunnels in Ash and Kate’s vegetable garden, the herb gardens, the climbing wall and the big barn roof holding the solar PV panels providing about half of our electricity needs. Plus cattle and sheep graze in the surrounding fields as part of Jake and Chrissy’s conservation grazing business.”

It’s certainly busy. And Trill Farm also includes wildlife-friendly ponds, orchards, woodlands, an eco-campsite and an aerial walkway adventure trail.

Romy lives here on the farm and enjoys eating

its produce, walking her dog every day and watching her family – she has two daughters – and friends enjoy the farm too: “In the summer, my grandchildren put hammocks up in the woodland and slept there – it is just brilliant!”

Romy’s original vision for Trill Farm is now growing into a reality, thanks to a lot of hard work and her creative outlook, but it is definitely a team venture. “I want this place to be viable for me as a landlord and also for each of my tenants. We’re balancing optimism with the reality of energy, economics and family to find a way to make it all work,” says Romy. “I have always wanted Trill to be a new model of living and a way to demonstrate to others that this circular economy is viable and sustainable in the long-term.”

“I want Trill to retain its magic but also achieve something for the future and share it,” she explains. This year, she’ll be running more family and teenage camps as well as music camps, so that “this place can fulfil its purpose even more.

“Our two kingpins are herbal medicine and living nutrition weekends every spring, summer, autumn and winter. We’ll also be running a combined agriculture course and a woodland course.”

There is a lot going on but it’s fair to say that Romy is used to making things happen. Her story began in the early 1980s, when she took out a bank loan for £18,000 to set up that first shop in Covent Garden.

“Our success was down to word-of-mouth, someone who’d been successfully treated for back pain would bring a friend who suffered from migraines. Eventually we had queues coming out of the door,” she remembers.

“In just three years I’d paid off the loan. And

‘In the summer, my grandchildren put hammocks up in the woodland and slept there – it is just brilliant’

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Interview

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Interview

the bank manager asked if I’d thought of opening another shop.

“I hadn’t. But I had thought about opening up a place to manufacture the products, because we were getting too busy to keep making products in the back of the shop.

“So I borrowed more money and got a grant from Wandsworth council and took over a builder’s yard in Balham, and that was our first manufacturing place.

And in order to pay for that site, we needed to increase sales and so we opened another shop - and later a franchise agreement where some of our fantastic staff from the first shop when I first set up Neal’s Yard Remedies, there were two sides. The toiletries side and the natural medicine side.”

It was a case of being in the right place at the right time to get a very new idea off the ground. “People didn’t really have the confidence to use simple remedies that they could buy, make or grow themselves that could

be effective to treat everyday ailments and illnesses. For me, setting up Neal’s Yard was as much about providing a platform to show how remedies could work as well as providing the very good quality ones.

“Alongside that we developed a range of toiletries. The blue glass bottle was to protect the integrity of the highquality organic ingredients.”

Romy is bringing her business know-how to making Trill Farm a sustainable enterprise for the 21st century.

“The vegetable growing is a successful, established business now. It’s all part of the educational offering at Trill Farm. When groups of school children come down, they spend a few hours picking vegetables and use them to make pizzas in our clay oven, or pick herbs from the garden to make tea.

“We make money in a number of small and different projects, whether it’s selling bags of timber or using herbs to make tea and soap. We also rent out the land.”

‘We make money with a number of small projects, selling bags of timber or using herbs to make tea and soap’

It’s a busy life, but a fulfilling one: “I get up early in the morning, I’m best in the morning. I love to go for a walk and get some fresh air with the dog first thing. I don’t take my mobile with me, so that I can make that connection with the outside and environment. This is a ritual I can’t live without, even if in the city.

“At 8.30am everyone arrives at the farm. Then throughout the day it’s work, work, work. It changes all the time, whether it’s fulfilling soap orders, our product hampers or developing the kitchen and teaching space.

“In the evenings, people can come to the main house and eat. We use herbs and vegetables from the farm. To relax, there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa and reading a book. I have a rule of sending no emails after 8pm. Occasionally I break it, but not often.”

On a personal level, Romy wants to find more time this year to focus more on her pottery: “I love the Japanese approach to skills and craft and using the pottery wheel engages a different part of my brain.”

She explains that, for her, the essence of Trill Farm’s community is to do with “valuing the relationship with soil and water and the air; sharing, respect for work, and an appreciation of each other.” www.trillfarm.co.uk

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food

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interiors

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Doing it differently This quirky Victorian property in Brixham has been a labour of love for its owners, discovers Charlotte Dear hen Sophie and Leigh Walker-Haworth bought this Brixham house in 2011, the last thing they were searching for was a project. Relocating to Devon from Hackney in London to start new jobs – Sophie was swapping her teaching job to become a writer and Leigh was about to start at medical school – the couple were also getting married that summer so had “quite enough on our plate already,” says Sophie.

All plans and pre-conceptions were abandoned, however, when they fell for this Victorian property in the heart of Brixham, which has panoramic views of Torbay. Far from the turnkey property they had hoped for, the property required 18 months of hard work to become the family home the couple had in mind.

“When we bought it, the house was in two flats, which had been hastily converted for a family to share. Before that, it had been an old peoples’ home,” Sophie recalls. “Though house renovation was entirely new to us, when I was growing up my parents did it quite a lot. Initially, that experience nearly put me off the idea! But in the end we were able to see past the unorthodox layout and questionable décor.

“I was pregnant, we were working on a relatively tight budget and we couldn’t afford an architect. So we did the design and project management ourselves and hired local tradesmen who had never taken on a project quite like this before. Their enthusiasm and imagination really helped.”

W

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Interiors

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Interiors

Unfortunately, the chequered history of the house meant that few original features had been retained, other than the banisters and a few coving details, which were revealed as Sophie and Leigh ripped back the plasterboard.

One of the driving principles the couple had was to use natural and eco-friendly materials as much as they could, so for the flooring they used a combination of slate in the kitchen and bathroom downstairs and laid bamboo floor throughout most of the rest of the house.

The kitchen units were from an Indian company that make stand-alone pieces, which were then topped with a granite surface by local tradesmen: “As the front door opens into this room we didn’t want it to feel too much like a kitchen but rather the heart of the home and a great space for ‘Purples, greens entertaining,” says Sophie. and pinks were all One of the most dramatic changes was the dining room: colours from our “When we bought the property wedding and the it was completely boxed off natural materials with very little light. So we decided to keep the same footprint were inspired by but open it up with an orangery our honeymoon roof and windows around the master bedroom is located on the side, which has created a much top floor and has a bamboo wood in Vietnam’ more family-friendly space,” floor and pale lilac walls, “PurSophie explains. ples, greens and pinks were all “For the sitting room, we colours from our wedding and the sourced a corner sofa from natural materials were inspired Made.com, which is where we have found quite by our honeymoon in Vietnam, which is where a few of our pieces. It offers high design value a lot of the décor discussions took place!” says without having to pay through the nose for it.”

Sophie. This oriental influence is unmistakable As both Sophie and Leigh both spend time in the master bathroom, which features a tiled working from home, it was important that they floor, green wall tiles and a wooden bath. “Origieach had their own office spaces within the nally, this was a bedroom with a tiny shower house. “My writing room upstairs is the realisaroom, so we decided to sacrifice a bedroom to fit tion of my dream, a space of my own to sit and our honeymoon-inspired wooden bathtub, which write overlooking the sea,” says Sophie. The had to be winched up through the window.”

[[

Outside, the garden was very much a concrete yard when the couple arrived. “We have laid a composite decking, which is non-slip and stands up to the coastal location. It enjoys the last rays of sun at the end of the day and has fantastic sea views,” says Sophie.

The couple are now leaving Brixham to be closer to Leigh’s junior doctor position in Exeter.

Will they take on another project property? “It’s been a big learning curve,” says Sophie. “We did end up getting everything we wanted but I think perhaps next time round we’ll be able to get there a lot more quickly!”

119 Berry Head Road is on sale with Chartsedge, £635,000 www.chartsedge.co.uk

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GET THE

LOOK

River Fish ceramic pot £18 Cath Kidston

Add a dash of quirky charm to your home with these cute picks

Toy wooden kitchen £72.95 Cuckooland

Mulroy Antlers lamp base £65 Laura Ashley

Sideboard £399.99 HomeSense

fave!

Mirrored nightstand £249 Housing Units

Rug £79.99 TK Maxx

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Ask Gracie...

Want to look your best this week? Our styling expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help you fulfil your fashion potential in every possible way. All you have to do is ask...

The fairest of them all I’m on the hunt for an everyday facial moisturiser with the added benefit of a high SPF. Can you recommend any that won’t leave white marks or make me look greasy? LV, Launceston

Q

Bioderma Photoderm Max Aquafluid SPF50+ £13.10 www.escentual.com

We all know that wearing sunscreen on a daily basis is the best way to keep your skin looking younger for longer, but finding a formula that fits with your everyday beauty routine is sometimes easier said than done.

But the good news is that with ever-evolving formulas, these nongreasy sunscreens will ensure you don’t break out or end up looking washed out.

Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50: Alpha-H’s daily moisturiser provides waterproof, broad-spectrum sun damage protection at SPF 50, without feeling heavy or looking chalky on your skin. Suitable for all skin types, it strikes the perfect balance

Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50 £29 Marks and Spencer

between long-lasting hydration and a non-greasy, barely-there texture.

OM Skincare Invisible Finish Primer SPF40: The philosophy behind OM Skincare is creating the perfect balance between scientific innovation and nature and the Invisible Finish primer follows this ethos. The product contains SPF40 to protect against UVA and UVB while acting as a protective layer to avoid the effects of pollution. It also provides a subtle tint to enhance your complexion.

Bioderma Photoderm Max Aquafluid SPF50+: The Bioderma Photoderm Aquafluid is an ideal choice for those with fair, sensitive or sun intolerant skin. It uses their patented Bioprotection to provide optimal protection against UV rays without weighing skin down. The formula is as light as water and sinks into the skin to leave it dry to the touch.

OM Skincare Invisible Finish Primer SPF40 £42.50 www.omskincare.co.uk

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You shall go to the ball My husband and I have been invited to a formal gala and the dress code calls for a gown. Where can I get something beautiful without spending a fortune? JR, Padstow

Q

As much as we all love the thought of playing princess for a day, the idea of spending hundreds on a dress you’ll probably never wear again is enough to make anyone rethink their RSVP. But the good news is that there are a few brands out there selling affordable gowns, you just have to know where to look.

Little Mistress’s fashion-savvy collection of seasonal party dresses are a luxurious yet affordable dream. Likewise Monsoon’s bridesmaid range offers the perfect dress for any occasion. You can go full-length and formal or short and pretty in a palette of beautiful hues. There’s Tulle dress also Phase Eight, which £119 Monsoon offers a range of elegant and flattering occasion dresses for a little over £100.

Lace up corset T-shirt £14.99 New Look

Blush applique maxi £90 Little Mistress

Nathalie Bond Organics Skin Balm £17 www.nathaliebond.com A mix of beeswax, natural essential oils and jojoba oil, this waxy balm offers deeper nourishment than water-based creams as it works as a protective layer locking moisture in. It can sit nicely under foundation, tackle dehydrated summer skin, remove eye makeup and soothe sunburn.

One shoulder dress £130 Phase Eight

Style cinch Q

I’m a huge fan of the corset trend which I’ve seen all over celebrities but I don’t know how to wear it in real life. Do you have any tips?

AD, Paignton

Corsets have taken hold as one of the biggest trends of the season and I think it’s safe to say we can thank Kim Kardashian for that.

We’ve seen Kim rocking corsets and harnesses over hoodies, paired with miniskirts and sky-high heels, but how do we mere mortals pull off the trend?

Corset belt £12.99 New Look

Gracie’s shopping list

• Black on black: A corset is an easy way to update your favourite little black dress. Keep things understated by pairing black with black and ensure the hemline of your dress falls below the knee.

Lace-up corset • Office appropriate: A corset and a crisp £6 Primark white shirt is a match made in heaven.

• Keep it casual: For the ultimate weekend vibe you can’t beat a corset worn over the top of a baggy tee and denim jeans.

• Romance was born: For the perfect date night outfit, try layering a corset over a lacy blouse for a little romantic flair.

• Lace up tops: If you’re still unsure about the trend, start of slowly by opting for pieces with built-in corsets or lace-up fronts.

Ariana Embellished Day Bag £39 Accessorize A showcase of embellishment and embroidery, this day bag is crafted from canvas for a chic daytime feel.

With contrasting tan handles and a zip closure, it’s just right for a weekend look with wow-factor.

Bjork and Berries From the Garden Bath Salts £27 www.cultbeauty.co.uk Enriched with handpicked flowers and herbs from the Bjork and Berries gardens in Northern Sweden, this luxurious, allnatural bath salt is guaranteed to grant a moment of peaceful tranquility.

Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie

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Pink front detail top £39.50 Oliver Bonas

Pretty in pink hether you call it bubblegum, ballet pink or dusty rose, pale pink is the colour of the season. For those of you who don’t do colour, this soft and feminine hue is a great way to add interest to an otherwise plain outfit without fear of going overboard. The shade looks great paired with black, denim or any other pastel colour and works with a broad spectrum of skin tones. If you’re looking for something extra girly, the bow clutch from Dune is a surefire winner and is an easy to way to incorporate the shade into your wardrobe.

W

Roll neck dress £60 JD Williams

Open shoulder top £40 Wallis Wide leg trousers £12 George at ASDA

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Fashion

Tulle dress £49 Miss Selfridge

Wrap jacket £25 Very

Double zip jeans £32 Very

fave!

Ballet pink embroidered dress £75 Debenhams

Pretty professional: Pastel shades are the perfect work wardrobe update for spring Shawl collar dress £34.99 Bon Prix

Bow clutch £55 Dune

Ruffle ballerina flats £18 Simply Be

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Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day

RISE AND SHINE Sunday May 7 is International Dawn Chorus Day (IDCD), a worldwide celebration of nature’s symphony and the perfect opportunity to set your alarm, take to your garden or nearest green space and practice a little mindfulness as you appreciate the music of Mother Nature.

If you’d like to learn more about what you can hear, head along to your nearest IDCD event. www.idcd.info

Walk this way Head to Arlington Court tomorrow Sunday May 7 to take part in Walk for Parkinson’s 2017. With two routes to choose from, a 1.75-mile stroll around the lake or a more challenging fivemile trek through ancient woodland, this is a fun and blood-pumping way to raise money for and awareness of this degenerative disorder that affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Register at 10.30am for an 11am start, dogs on leads are welcome and registration costs £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s with a recommended minimum sponsorship of £50 www.parkinsons.org.uk

Find inner peace Join Naimh Kavanagh at Ocean Flow Yoga in Newquay on Sunday May 14 from 1-4pm for a Yin Yoga and Hridaya meditation workshop. Enjoy being guided through a full lower and upper body sequence while allowing your mind and body to adjust, realign and harmonise to reveal a deep calmness and sense of selfconnection. Naimh will take you on a journey into earth, water and fire elements to balance emotions of worry, anger and fear before bringing you back into the here and now for tea and treats. Book your £30 class at www.oceanflowyoga.co.uk

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Sharing is caring Mental Health Awareness Week runs from May 8-14 and there are many ways in which you and your family can get involved in this important event. You could host an event such as a wellbeing walk or a set up a stand in your local community centre. Or perhaps even share your own personal story about surviving or thriving by emailing your story to stories@mentalhealth.org.uk. For more information visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Go offroad With 3500 acres of forest to explore at Haldon, it’s a great day out for the whole family. The cycle paths are also colour coded on levels of difficulty. The Discovery Trail has regular resting points and information boards which is great for kids and the Ridge Red Trail is more suited to experienced riders who want to test their quick thinking and turning skills.

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 31

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Wellbeing

The truth about beauty sleep Our expert has wise words on how to look fresh Q

I’ver been sleeping really badly lately. Will that affect my skin, do you think? MN, Barnstaple

Dr Pradnya Apte says: Sleep is essential for all of us and helps our bodies to recharge, allowing new cells to regenerate. A good sleep helps the immune system function better and allows our skin to repair any damage that has been done to it throughout the day. That said, fewer than 35% of us actually get seven hours sleep per night.

It is easy to panic if you don’t sleep well, but here are some truths about the relationship between sleep deprivation and the ageing process.

First up, you need to think about cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that we produce when we are stressed and this hormone can affect your skin’s health as well as physical health generally.

Cortisol levels naturally decrease when we are asleep and, as these levels reduce, sleep allows your skin to regenerate and repair itself. High levels of cortisol, which forms when you are stressed out, contribute to the breakdown of collagen in the skin. This protein is key to keep our skin looking young and fresh. Elastin, too, takes a battering from cortisol. When these structures start to breakdown, premature ageing can be the result. When short of sleep, our collagen can

also prematurely stiffen, which leads to instudy showed that people had redder, more creased lines and wrinkles. swollen eyes, dark circles, and paler skin after While we are sleeping, the body is also creata night of no sleep. The same study also found ing growth hormone, which is essential to stimuthat sleep-deprived people were perceived to look late cell production. If sleep is in short supply, sadder than they did after a good night’s sleep. we do not produce as much of this hormone and To reduce your risk of getting wrinkles, this can lead to the skin thinning. Our bodies consider a satin pillowcase so your face will slide simply do not have time to produce new cells. against the pillowcase instead of crinkling up And yes, this also accelerates the on cotton. And, no matter how ageing process. tired you are, don’t forget to Another vital aspect of sleep is cleanse your face before bedHigh levels of that, while we are asleep, our skin time. It is essential to remove cells produce protective antioxipollutants and grime off your cortisol, which dants for the following day. This is skin by the end of the day. forms when you important as these hard-working The researchers also found are stressed out, natural substances can reduce that those who enjoyed qualfree radical damage to the skin ity sleep were more quick to contribute to the from UVA rays in the sun. You recover from stressors to the breakdown of can increase antioxidants in your skin such as sun and environdiet by eating plenty of fruit and mental toxins. collagen in the vegetables.

So there you have it - no skin You also need to watch out for amount of the most expensive dehydration. Not getting enough treatments or products in sleep can increase the inflammathe world will really be able tion in your body and lead to increased skin barto compensate for a bad night. There is a lot of rier dysfunction. This can cause dry, flaky skin truth in the idea of beauty sleep! which can look quite red and inflamed.

Dr Pradnya Apte runs Skin Southwest facial The truth is, when you are short of sleep your aesthetics clinic in Exeter. For more information skin will be inflamed, dull, and dry. A recent visit www.skinsouthwest.co.uk

[[

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Food

SMALL BITES

Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now Sweet weekend This is the dream cookery course for those of you with a sweet tooth. The Ashburton Cookery School is running a Pastry and Puddings Plus weekend which combines the best of their bread making, patisserie and dessert courses into one super weekend. You’ll learn how to master short-crust and sweet-pastry, have a go at creating a range of delicious desserts and try your hand at traditional bread making. Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May, £315 per person. www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk

Hot and fiery Situated in the beautiful Blackdown Hills, Culmstock Chilli Co was created by Nigel and Coralie Howard whose passions lie in growing beautiful and tasty chilli plants for people to take home and continue to grow on their own windowsills. Their range of plants are all chosen for taste, flavour and beauty and range from a nice medium heat to very hot. www.theculmstockchillico.co.uk

Seaside street food A taste of the ocean

Founded by Tony Coulson, Ebb Tides sells sustainably harvested edible seaweeds. Based on the Jurassic Coast in east Devon, Tony has been eating seaweed for much of his life and has over 20 years’ experience working in in aquaculture and fisheries, as well as environmental protection so he knows his stuff. Seaweed is wholesome, delicious and a great alternative to salt. www.ebbtides.co.uk

Events Square in Falmouth is once again hosting pop up stalls from Cornwall’s finest producers of street food with flavours from around the world and craft ales from Cornish micro-breweries like Padstow Brewing Company and Keltek Cornish Brewery. This is a free event with undercover seating, live music, food and barrels of craft ale so you can eat, drink and dance all weekend regardless of the weather. Friday May 26 – Monday May 29, Falmouth, Cornwall. www. falmouth.co.uk

Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33

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02/05/2017 13:20:00

Enjoy

Your stars

by Cassandra Nye This week’s sign:

Happy birthday to...

George Clooney

Known for being reliable, practical, ambitious and sensual, the people born under the Zodiac sign of Taurus often have an eye for beauty. They also tend to be good with money, and can make efficient financial managers. Generous and dependable, Taureans will readily lend a helping hand to the family, friends and the needy. However, they can be stubborn, self-centred and even a bit lazy at times.

Born May 6, 1961 George Clooney turns 56 today, and what a busy life he has led so far. He is not only an actor but a director, producer and screenwriter, and has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards. In 2014 he married Amal Alamuddin, the human rights lawyer, and this year looks set to be busier than ever, as the couple are expecting twins. Soon he won’t just be looking forward to his birthday, but Father’s Day too. Congratulations, George!

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) As this week begins, try to avoid awkward people. A clear signal is coming through from a business contact. Being lucky takes you by surprise but you do deserve a break! With the midweek Full Moon it is time to indulge yourself and your friends. Now, where was it that you always wanted to go? Praise comes your way that is well deserved.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) With a dynamic and energetic week to come, the Full Moon midweek throws a light on romance. Are you going to ask that important but sensitive question? Soon you will be feeling more confident and convinced that you are on the right path. Build new relationships by all means but realise that those existing also need attention.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Travel and friends seem to go together right now. Certainly the Full Moon midweek sends shivers down your romantic spine! Inviting a colleague or neighbour for a chat can show an unexpected side to them. Could this be the start of a new relationship? Working with others shows a new dimension to your social side.

LEO (July 23 - August 23) A light shines on you from the midweek Full Moon. Break away from any thoughts that are holding you back. What is past is past. Putting that fertile imagination to work sets you on a creative course. Think of where you want to be in five years’ time and aim to get there! An important question needs an answer that you are slow to give.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As you learn from travel and education you see possibilities opening up. A sharp mind gathers information and knowledge

naturally. This is the kind of situation that suits you best. The full Moon midweek urges you to get going and forget the past. Romance is king.

Your life feels like a circle of delights at the moment.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Dynamic times are ahead and the Full Moon midweek urges you forward.

Even so, avoid taking on any debts or activities that could be risky. Sharing your work and dreams with friends boosts your confidence. Happy that an obligation has shifted to the back shelf ? It may disappear altogether but be aware of what is happening.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Now is the time for tying up loose ends and building bridges, especially social ones. Relatives may be feeling a bit wobbly but give your time rather than money. Communications need to be chosen so that they arrive at the right time (or, rather, not at the wrong time!)

Get serious matters dealt with so that you have more time to spend on social matters.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Get yourself organised to chase up your dreams next week. Ask for and send out information midweek when the emphasis is on career. Rebalance your home and working life. The time that you are on the home front should be seen as important and, hopefully, relaxing!

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Bright sparks seek out your company midweek. What do they want from you and how can you make gains yourself ? No transactions now should be one-sided. Remember that some secrets should remain so. Being bold now gets the right results.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) If you seem to be going in circles at the moment, enjoy the ride! Zip around your social life while not spending too much cash.

Romance is in the air but aim to be with the right person. Who is that? Well, someone who pulls their weight and expects the same in return. Appreciation should come midweek when the Full Moon highlights more sensitive and emotional areas.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Choose your words carefully and make them count this week. Being determined to get what you need is only the beginning.

Showing that you will not swerve or change your path is really important. Yes, there are those who would take advantage of any hesitation. Younger relatives in particular could do with guidance.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) What are you waiting for, Aries? There are surprises this week when someone or something reappears. Life is now more hopeful and lighter generally. Sharing the good news makes it appear more real, for real it is! The full Moon midweek just serves to increase optimism.

34

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Ads_May 6.indd 2

02/05/2017 13:13:08

Cook

mitch tonks:

Bream cooked en papilotte with roasted garlic, olive oil, chilli and rosemary Mitch says: Cooking a fish en papilotte (or in a bag) means the fish retains its moistness and the other flavours that you add really get a chance to develop with the flavours of the fish and create something quite magical.

This combination of roasted garlic, chilli and rosemary is a good one, as is thyme, lemon and cumin but you will find your own preferences!

Serves: 1

You will need:

Method:

1 sea bream 450 gm each – head removed Look for wild gilt head or black bream.

However the farmed gilt bream are delicious and perfectly acceptable. Ask your fishmonger to scale, gut and remove the head from the fish.

100ml olive oil 50ml white wine 1 small birdseye chilli 2 sprigs rosemary Salt Finely chopped parsley 6 garlic cloves roasted in the oven for 10 minutes with a little salt and olive oil Parchment paper for wrapping

1.

Pre heat the oven to 160C.

2.

Place your garlic cloves with the skin on, onto a roasting tray, drizzle with a little olive oil and some salt and cook for 10 minutes until soft. At this stage you should be able to squeeze the garlic from the skin, if not then just cook a little longer.

3.

Lay out a piece of parchment paper large enough to fold over the fish, crumble the chilli over the top and place the garlic around the fish, tuck some rosemary into the belly, sprinkle with salt and pour over the olive oil, fold the paper around the fish as seal like the drawing then just before you seal it up pour

the wine into the corner and seal.

4.

Heat the oven to maximum and cook for 15 minutes. Cut the paper open sprinkle with chopped parley and serve straight from the bag.

FISH by Mitch Tonks, Pavilion, photography Chris Terry. Eat out at Mitch’s Seahorse and Rockfish restaurants: www.mitchtonks.co.uk 36

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: Should I keep it or should I drink it? This is a question I am often asked, especially after meeting someone for the first time and they discover I am a wine m e r chant. I’ve come to realise some people hang on to bottles of wine and this isn’t always a wise idea. A fancy label or a hefty price tag doesn’t render the wine worthy of storage for many years, nor will hoarding it improve drinkability or value.

Perhaps you visited a winery on holiday, fell in love with the wine and bought yourself a case.

It could be that a close friend or relative bought you an exceptional bottle for a noteworthy birth-

People hang on to

day and you’ve decided to keep it for a special occasion. Many people will probably have a bottle or two hidden away in the garage, under the stairs or tucked away in a kitchen cupboard. My stock answer is always - drink it! Enjoy it before it probably goes out of condition. If you have a case, try a bottle every few months and when the wine reaches the point that it wasn’t as good

bottles of wine but this

isn’t always a wise idea

as you remember then it’s time to drink up the rest. I have to point out that there are wines that are in need of a little time before they’re ready for consumption, however they account for less than five percent of the world’s production. So my advice is spend this weekend unearthing those hidden bottles and enjoy the liquid inside.

April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk

Product of the week

It’s quiz time, wine lovers!

Dartmoor pub The Tors in Belstone is holding a wine quiz night on Friday May 28. And of course there will be lots of lovely wines to taste during the quiz. Don’t worry if you’re not a complete wine buff, the questions are loosely around wine and fun for everyone. Call the pub on 01837 840689 to book a place.

Bon Courage Chardonnay, Prestige Cuvee Situated between the Breede River and the Langeberg mountains in Robertson, lies the Bon Courage Wine Estate. Here, the Bruwer family produces a selection of fine wines. My favourite is this Chardonnay, which has had subtle oak barrel maturation. It is big on flavour, including grapefruit and lime, then there is vanilla and butterscotch which gives a crème brûlée character. Lovely acidity provides a firm backbone and a long, fine-tuned finish.

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Drink

Darren Norbury

talks beer Beer of the week Now and again a beer stops me in my tracks with the ‘wow factor’. Step forward South Hams Brewery’s Lifeboat 1, one of three special edition, whisky cask-aged brews, and the pick of the bunch for me. It balances a dark malty brew with a subtle aroma and taste of whisky. A beautiful, rich, warming, smooth brew.

NEW TOTNES BREWS Totnes Brewing Company has added two new beers to its portfolio: Duck Medicine (4.2% ABV) a New Zealand hopped pale ale, and Tropango (5% ABV) with fruity mango notes. Both are unfined and unfiltered and, thus, suitable for vegans.

Verdant in Bristol

Verdant Brewing, of Falmouth, takes to the road this month with a four-day tap takeover at BrewDog Bristol, from May 11 to 14. There will be a meet the brewer session on the Friday evening.

t’s a Friday evening and I’ve been to appeal to hip young things, who love resinous on an impromptu pub crawl of Pennew world hops and hazy sessions IPAs. But it’s a zance. I’d intended to go in my local reassuring reminder that there are British beers but as I was about to disembark two which may not be flavour of the month at the of my mates got on. “There’s a wedmoment, but are certainly worth searching out. ding party in there. It’s bedlam. Come with us.”

May is CAMRA’s designated Mild Month. Yes, I Which is how – after halves of Firebrand West know. It’s spring and our thoughts are turning to Coast IPA (zingy, refreshing), Cornish Crown golden, lighter offerings, but because May begins Bourbon and Vanilla Porter with an ‘M’ it became Mild Month (rich, fruity) and Sharp’s Atlan(so the story goes). Mild can be as tic (pale, smooth) – I came to find tricky to track down as a pint of myself in the White Lion. On Young’s Special, but it’s out there, Mild can be as Karaoke night. and still popular in some places.

There were two handpumps, Martha’s Mild, made by Teigntricky to track but only one beer on: Young’s worthy Brewery, in Newton down as a pint of Special (4.5% ABV). One of the Abbot, since 2002, won the strong handpumps had the clip facing milds and old ales category at Young’s Special, out, the other the clip facing Exeter Winter Beer Festival, in but it’s out there, backward to the barman. ClearJanuary, and is always on sale and still popular ly, they get through a lot of it. during Mild Month. St Austell’s I recall Young’s Special from, old XXXX Mild, which ended its in some places particularly, the Old Ale House, life as regularly produced beer in Truro, in the 1990s, which in Black Prince, is brewed occathose days was an unofficial satsionally and generally on at the ellite of our newspaper office. brewery Celtic Beer Festival in Loved it then, but that was when Young’s was November. And in my local, Penzance Brewing still brewing it. The brewing side of the firm has Company Mild is a staple, occasionally joined by since been bought by Charles Wells, of Bedford, Coastal Brewery’s multi-award-winning Merry famous for Bombardier, one of a very few beers I Maidens Mild. don’t get on with.

There’s plenty of mild out there if you know So I didn’t hold out much hope for this 2017 where to look (we’re hoping to find some on the version. How wrong I was. It struck me as pretty Cornwall CAMRA Wednesday Walkabout in Falmuch how I remember it. Amber, getting the best mouth on May 10 – meet at The Front, 6pm). Like from British (Fuggles and Goldings hops) with a the Young’s Special, it’s worth seeking out for a good bitter bite and balancing light sweetness. In taste of our brewing heritage. the current market, Young’s Special is unusual Darren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk in being deliberately traditional. It’s not trying @beertoday

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culture vulture Our pick of the most interesting and exciting things to see and do right now in the South West

All the King’s horses Watergate Bay’s biggest event, the award-winning Aspall Polo on the Beach, is back for a tenth year. The free event attracts thousands of people to watch a showcase of world class polo, equestrian displays and family entertainment. In addition to the polo matches there will be lots of arena entertainment including a horse jousting and stunt display.

There’ll also be plenty to eat and drink and live music on offer throughout the weekend.

Friday May 19 – Sunday May 21, Watergate Bay. www.watergatebay.co.uk

Friends fill the gap

An evening of British folk-rock Enjoy an evening of musical celebration with Fairpoint Convention at their golden anniversary concert. To mark its fiftieth year, Fairport has released a brand new CD titled 50:50@50. The band will play a selection of tracks from the album as well as long-established favourites from their extensive repertoire. Thursday May 25, Regal Theatre Redruth, tickets from £18. www.regaltheatre-redruth.co.uk

The Friends of Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) have added miniature by the renowned 19th-century Exeter miniaturist, James Leakey, to the city’s Fine Art collection. The collection has always included his drawings, portraits and landscapes but no miniatures; a significant gap for an artist whose reputation as a miniaturist extended beyond the borders of his Devonshire home. The newly-purchased miniature depicts Charlotte Trevanion and can be seen at the museum now.

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Michael Spiers, Exeter

Sixty years of success Congratulations to Michael Spiers on its diamond anniversary ichael Spiers has been in the business of making memories for over 60 years, with 2017 marking the company's diamond anniversary. It is a sparkling milestone in the awardwinning, luxury watch and jewellery retailer’s long history. With an outstanding reputation for show-stopping jewels and magnificent timepieces, the Michael Spiers team credit their continued success to providing an exceptional customer experience.

Managing director Adam Spiers says, “We are in the business of happy occasions, helping people to celebrate some of the most important moments in their lives – we don’t take that responsibility lightly.”

The company's chairman, Keith White, continues: “Every visitor to our showrooms receives the same outstanding customer experience that we have become famous for over the years – and it’s part of what brings people back to us time and time again. In fact, we are now serving the children and grandchildren of some of our very first customers!”

M

Stocking the world’s most renowned brands, including Rolex, and with an army of loyal customers, the company now has showrooms in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton. These have all recently been refurbished to the highest standards and it is fair to say that Michael Spiers would not be out of place on the streets of Lon-

'We are in the business of happy occasions, helping people celebrate' don's Hatton Garden or West End. The company was first founded by the late Michael Spiers, whose first store opened in Looe, Cornwall, in 1957. This was quickly followed five years later with stores in Polperro, Newquay and Paignton and one in Plymouth’s Cornwall Street

in 1969. The Truro store followed in 1980 and another opened in Taunton in 1990.

Michael’s brother-in-law Keith White and his close family friend Michael Cox both joined the business. The company eventually took over rival Plymouth stores Bowden and Sons and Richard Wigfull in 1989. It was a big moment in the evolution of the firm, and coincided with another monumental step forward, as Michael Spiers added the premium watch brand Rolex to its portfolio.

Michael’s son Adam joined the business in 1996 and the family team continued to expand the company, including opening its first Exeter Store on Castle Street in 1998.

Founder, Michael Spiers, sadly passed away shortly after in 1999, but the business was in safe hands with Adam, Keith and diamond expert Michael Cox at the helm.

Keith comments, “Our most important business values, and the things which haven’t changed from day one, is providing a personal customer experience. This is strengthened by our quality showrooms offering only the best in

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People

jewellery and timepieces. We aren’t just selling products but treasured family heirlooms.

“There have been many changes over the years. We have launched our own in-house workshop, home to our skilled Rolex accredited watchmakers and jewellers. But our ethos has always stayed the same. We pride ourselves on providing a service reminiscent of a bygone era, with exceptional staff who are highly trained and knowledgeable. The customer is always at the heart of everything we do.”

Stocking some of the world’s leading luxury brands including, Patek Phillipe, Tudor, Gucci, OMEGA, TAG Heuer, as well as being the only stockist of Rolex in the region, the past 60 years have contained many highlights. “There have been many memorable moments over the years, with my personal favourite being when we opened our Plymouth store, taking over from two of the biggest jewellers in the region – it is a testament to how much we have grown in stature,” said K eith.

Many customers are unaware of how much work and dedication goes into sourcing only the best products, says Keith: “Our Directors regularly travel around the world, as far as India and Bangkok, to source the finest diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Fashion trends may have changed over the years, but quality diamonds and gemstones have always been highly sought after.

"In 2007, our Director Michael Cox was offered a place on the World Federation of Diamond Bourses. His knowledge and expertise in selecting diamonds has been a priceless asset to the company."

The hard work has not gone unnoticed, with Michael Spiers receiving national recognition, nominated for Best Independent Luxury Watch Retailer in the Watch Pro Awards.

PROMOTION

MD Keith White, Adam Spiers and Michael Cox

Five things

You might not know about Michael Spiers

Global: The Michael Spiers team attends Baselworld in Europe, the world’s most important annual watch and jewellery event, to be at the forefront of current trends. The team also regularly travels around the globe to source only the finest in gemstones and diamonds.

Unique: Skilled craftsmen create stunning oneof-a-kind pieces of jewellery from the Michael Spiers Plymouth workshop.

Celebrity: Michael Spiers has many high profile, celebrity customers, including Lord Alan Sugar

who regularly tweets his support for the team, commending the store for its customer service and selection of Rolex and Patek Philippe watches.

Brands: The business is the sole stockist of the most prestigious Swiss watch brand, Rolex, throughout the South West.

Kudos: Michael Spiers was recently named as one of the four finalists in WatchPro magazine's national awards, in its 'Independent Luxury Watch Retailer of the Year' category.

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02/05/2017 11:21:16

An Exmoor gem Becky Sheaves discovers an irresistible combination of exceptionally lovely food, romance and history at The Jubilee Inn ’ll be absolutely honest, my expectations of this dinner were not overly ambitious. After all, my husband John and I had picked The Jubilee Inn more or less at random for a night out, looking for somewhere we could eat, then stay for the night and – above all escape the family. It was, essentially, a case of: “Granny says she will look after the kids for the night. Let’s get out of here!” And so off we went to West Anstey.

Anyway, I’m happy to say that we accidentally made a good choice of destination.

First up, I just love this part of the world.

Rural North Devon is so beautiful and unspoilt in its own right but it is also on the doorstep of one of my favourite places ever, Exmoor National Park.

The Jubilee Inn is a former roadside inn from

I

the days of elegant motoring. From the outside it’s all 1930s glamour – white modernist curved walls and green roof tiles - rather than beams and thatch from hundreds of years ago. In fact,

It was a simple but so tasty dish. Hmm, this was going well it was built to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V on 1935, back when the B3227 was one of the busiest transport routes down

into Cornwall.

Over the years, it has had its ups and downs, as so many rural pubs have done and was closed for quite a while in recent years. But, as we walk inside, it is clear the Jubilee is definitely having a moment right now. It’s beautifully decorated downstairs, with fabulous chintz wallpaper, lots of charm, a blazing fire and friendly cats and dogs. Locals are drinking at the bar – this is definitely still a proper pub – but the menu looks intriguing. Not the place for burger and chips.

First up, we drop off our bags in our room and have a nose around upstairs. It’s also gorgeous – everything’s new and beautifully renovated with fabulous wallpaper again and luxurious-looking décor.

Back downstairs and we meet Sam Salway, the head chef. Sam arrived as chef and then he

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Enjoy

and the inn’s owner Claire fell in love. It’s a really romantic story, actually, which they told us later over drinks after dinner. She’s the divorced mum who retreated to run a pub after a bruising divorce and – even more traumatically – a genuine brush with death. Her life was saved in 2013 by a live liver transplant from her brother. Then Sam came along as executive chef having moved back home to the Westcountry after ten years of working in France. They’ve got together as a couple and Sam is now cooking up a storm here combining French cooking techniques with top-quality Westcountry ingredients.

For starters, John went for an Exmoor game Scotch egg, wrapped in pancetta. It was superb – a little quail’s egg surrounded by super-tasty meat. Delicious. I ordered grilled mussels which arrived elegantly laid out in a circle, each in their own shell, arranged like the face of a clock.

“They’re from the River Exe estuary,” Sam explained “but teamed up with really good Iberico Bellota ham.” It was a simple but so tasty dish.

Hmm, this was going well.

For my main course, I had monkfish with a king prawn ravioli, courgette spaghetti and soft shell crab bisque. I do love a good crab bisque and this was perfect, speaking of long reductions and patient, expert cooking. The ravioli was perfect and the monkfish timing was spot on. In short, a classy dish.

John’s main course was a fillet of Exmoor beef with a braised beef bonbon, fondant potato and bordelaise sauce. It was heavenly – a real treat on what was a rather chilly night and just what you want to eat on a night away on the edge of Exmoor. We looked at each other and grinned

in glee. This was proper cooking and a top-class chef. You never know what you will find in north Devon.

For puds, John had a delicious and very generous cheeseboard packed with local treats, while I went for a poached pear and almond tart which was so French it almost arrived saying Ooh la la – and I mean that in a good way.

All in all, this is a cracking pub with friendly, welcoming hosts serving exceptionally lovely food. You can eat in the cosy bar or in the really rather gorgeous restaurant. Either way, if I lived closer I’d be here every week, because our menu was only £28 a head for three courses. Which is simply astonishing for this quality of cooking and well worth a visit. I can’t wait to go back.

The Jubilee Inn, West Anstey 01398 341401 www. jubileeinn.co.uk

How they scored...

Food



Atmosphere



Service



Price

£28pp for a three course dinner

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My Secret Westcountry Nick Hawke Nick Hawke, 31, is the head chef at the Talland Bay Hotel. He lives in Looe and is engaged to Madalina, and has a boy called Alex, aged five.

My favourite: Walk: My favourite walk would have to be somewhere on the coastline around Cornwall.

I especially love Dodman Point, near Gorran Haven. I have very fond memories of fishing with my dad and friends there.

It would have to be Sam’s on the Beach at Polkerris. On a beautiful sunny day there is nowhere better. For something really special I would say the Driftwood Hotel, Portscatho, however I am probably biased as I did work here under Michelin-starred chef Chris Eden for two years. He is an absolute beast in the kitchen (I am sure he would love me saying that about him).

Place to eat:

Weekend escape: As a chef

weekends mean extra hours, (somebody has to feed the lucky weekend breakers!) so I don’t tend to get away for any weekend escapes.

I really don’t get much of chance to go to festivals, but I am a keen music lover and have occasionally been to Boardmasters festival in Newquay.

Festival or event:

Crantock Beach

I have many favourite beaches but the top two, of which I have many childhood memories and still visit now, would have to be Menabilly near Fowey and Crantock Beach near Newquay.

Beach:

Shop: I can’t say I am a keen shopper, but when it comes to food I love all the new farm shops popping up, particularly Lobbs Farm shop at Heligan near St Austell. It is run by three farming brothers and has an amazing selection of food and drink, including their own beef and lamb.

They are real champions of local producers.

View: As a Cornish man it would be any coastal views around the county, especially around the St Austell and Fowey area where I grew up. The view from the Talland Bay Hotel takes some beating too.

Westcountry icon: When I was growing up I did a lot of cross country running, I ran for Newquay & Par Athletics Club and the county.

One runner I had huge admiration for was Neil Caddy who ran for Great Britain and the same club as me. He is now a Pirate FM DJ. Another would be Chris Eden (aforementioned Michelin-starred chef at The Driftwood Hotel).

He taught me a lot and his journey to where he has taken the hotel is my inspiration.

Pub: My favourite pub would have to be The Polgooth Inn near St Austell, it’s a beautiful pub and the food keeps getting better and better. I absolutely love it there.

Food: This question is a difficult one, but I would have to go with Curds and Croust cheesemakers, they have an amazing selection of three soft

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People

Boardmasters Festival, Newquay

Chris Eden

Lobb’s Farm Shop, Heligan

cheeses, which I absolutely adore and we serve them at the Talland Bay Hotel.

Cornish Pilsner, made by Sharps Brewery at Rock. It’s stunning and there is nothing better to drink after a hard day’s work.

Drink:

I would rather keep my secret place a secret! But one that has personal meaning to me is a little beach called Millendreath near where I live in Looe. I love to take my son and partner there on a summer’s evening.

Secret place:

Special treat: I like to treat myself

to a bottle of Tarquin’s Gin now and again, it is locally made and a favourite of mine and Madalina’s.

A very special treat would be a few days away in Bath. There is an amazing food scene there that I would love to explore.

Sunset at Dobman’s Point 45

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my life

[

man and boy

a smashing time

[

Phil Goodwin and James, seven, entertain a clumsy guest e had a rare tribal visit the other day – some of the rellies over with their two young kids: a boy around the same age as our James and a little girl of three.

The lad, a Star Wars-obsessed, Lego-loving footballer, was a big hit for obvious reasons.

But his little sister has a bit of work to do to get back into James’ good books after her demolition job on one of our prized possessions. I take responsibility. I took my eye off the ball.

My cousin’s wife hails from east Devon, so they had popped in on the way back to their home in Bournemouth. James had a mate from school over at the time so the four kids ran amok in our small terraced house and back yard. Frisbees flew and footballs bounced off the double glazing as the adults sat around the kitchen table and tried to make themselves heard above the chaos.

At one point, I joined in the kick-about, partly to intervene on behalf of the little girl. A furious football game between two six-year-old boys and one aged seven is really no place for such a delicate soul. She was wandering around with a watering can, as the growing lads launched powerful shots at one another, the full-size ball rebounding off the walls and once whizzing inches past her adorable curly hair.

Proceedings were called to a halt when the schoolmate’s mum arrived and whisked him away. So then we sat down and ate and, after sufficient quantities of fuel had been taken on board, the games resumed, this time in the form of light sabre battles using wooden skewers.

After a while, the tiny circus moved upstairs to James’s room and, when someone confirmed that all was well, we left them to it.

It was at this point that I took my eye off the

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ball. I should have known better than to leave an inquisitive little girl in the treasure trove that is his room. How could she resist the wardrobe shelves on which his beloved constructions are lovingly arranged? Of course, we heard bumps and bangs but nothing that spoke of mass destruction.

As they left, I heard something about “broken Lego upstairs”. “Don’t worry,” I said, every inch the Zen builder. “There is nothing we can’t fix.”

But when I got upstairs, I found the boy kneeling amid the ruins of Erebor, the remote mountain kingdom home of dwarves, as imagined by Tolkien.

Anyone who has seen the end of The Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, knows the gilded halls and giant forges were built through the sweat and tears of Durin’s folk over centuries. Believe me, assembling the Lego Lonely Mountain set was a similar task. Plus it is discontinued and cost me many hours of searching and £144 on eBay. There it lay, shattered, the sand green bricks scattered among the dwarvish gold and jewels. The poor little girl had, I would guess, picked it up to have a look and dropped it onto the floorboards. I should have kept an eye on her. Having left this stage of children behind I had forgotten how inquisitive and clumsy they are at that age.

Like most little lads, James tends towards doom rather than optimism in such situations.

“It’s ruined,” he concluded. I gave him a cuddle. “We can put it back together,” I said, gathering up the bits. “But not today.”

It took a while, yes, but we did it. As for restoring his faith in little girls - well, that may take a little longer.

[[ I should have known better than to leave an inquisitive little girl in the treasure trove that is his room

NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on life as a new dad in the Westcountry 46

Man and Boy_May 6.indd 46

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